English Prefix & Suffix with Examples

Prefix and Suffix are common in English and their correct use can help enhance the language skills and
deal with the unknown vocabulary easily. Let us understand what does prefix and suffix mean.
What is Prefix?
A Prefix is a word that is added at the beginning of the root word to form a new word. A prefix word
does not have any meaning of its own but when added to a root word it modifies the meaning of the
word. Prefix makes a word negative, indicate opinion or show repetition.
Prefix examples:
● Un (Prefix) + Happy (Root Word) = Unhappy (new word)
● Dis (Prefix) + Organised (Root word) = Disorganised (new word)
What is Suffixes?
Like Prefixes, Suffixes are also words that are added to the root word to form a new word but suffixes
are added at the end of the root word. Suffix does change the meaning of the word it is added to but not
make the word opposite or negative like prefix do, it simply changes the class of the root word like a
verb is changed into an adjective by adding a suffix.
Suffix examples:
● Forget (root word) + Ful (Suffix) = Forgetful (New word)
● Happy (root word) + Ness (Suffix) = Happiness (New word)
To understand the concept of English Root Words candidates can visit the linked page.

sh Root Words - Vocabulary for Verbal Ability

Learning root words in English is not only helpful to fetch good marks in the verbal ability section of
competitive exams but also help to hone up the English vocabulary skills in general.

List of Prefixes & Suffixes with Examples

Also go through important rules and concepts based articles given below for assistance in preparation
of english section.
Letter Writing Format Reading Comprehension Precis Writing Format

Article Rules Rules and List of Conjunctions Sentence Rearrangement & Para
jumbles

Rules to Add Prefixes & Suffixes

1. Use hyphen (-) when adding prefix to a common noun. For example: Pro-American,
Anti-religion, etc.
2. Hyphen is must to be used after prefixes Self and Ex, example, Self-dependant, self-esteem,
Ex-husband, Ex-employee, etc.
3. When adding a Prefix, do not change the spelling of the original word or root word;
Examples: Undo, disappear, irrelevant, cooperation, irrational, etc.
 4. Repetition of letters is possible when adding prefix. Basically the point number 3 (do not change
spelling) is to be followed even if the spelling results in double consonants after adding the
prefix.
5. There are certain words that start with prefix but do not have any prefix added to them like the
word Uncle.
6. Many Prefixes can have the same meaning like ‘in’ ‘im’ ‘un’ all these prefixes mean ‘opposite of’
or ‘not’.
7. Similarly many Suffixes also have the same meaning. Like the suffix ‘er’ when added to any
word will denote the action performed by the person. Example - Teacher, Gardener, Performer
etc.
8. Suffix ‘er’ is also added towards the end of adjectives or adverbs to help compare two things.
Example- Slow becomes slower, soon becomes sooner, fast becomes faster etc.
9. When suffix is added, the spelling of the base word can change. This is mostly the case
when the base words ends with y or e. For example - happy becomes happier, costly becomes
costlier with suffix ‘er’, manage becomes managing, make becomes making with suffix ‘ing’.
10. The Prefix that ends in a vowel, ‘a’ then the base word starting with a consonant will use it as it
is, like atypical, amoral, etc.
Given below are a few important Questions and Answers based on frequently asked English language
topics:

One Word Substitution Questions & Answers Tenses Questions And Answers

Prepositions Questions And Answers Idioms and Phrases Questions and Answers
For more concept based question and answers and English exercises check the verbal ability page
linked here.

List of Suffixes & Prefixes

The Prefixes and Suffixes are based on English vocabulary which is asked in the form of fill in the
blanks under the Verbal Ability section of competitive exams. Check the list of Suffixes and prefixes
with examples and download the Prefix and Suffix PDF given below.

List of Prefix in English

Prefix Word Meanings Prefix Examples
a without amoral, apolitical, atypical
ante before antecedent, antedate
anti against, opposing anti-war, anti-bacterial
arch more, extreme arch-capitalist, arch-rebel
auto self auto-dial, auto-rotate
bi two, twice bilingual, bisect, bi-monthly
circum round circumnavigate, circumvent
co with co-author, co-edit
col, com, con with collaborate, combine, connect
contra, counter against, opposing contraception, counterclaim, counteract
de opposite action declassify, destroy
dia across diagonal, diameter
dis not, opposite of disagree, disprove, distrust, disbelief
dys abnormal dyslexia, dysfunctional
e electronic e-book, e-mail, e-governance
eco related to environment eco-tourism, eco-disaster
en(m) cause to encode, embrace
equi equal equidistant, equilateral

ex previously, former ex-president, ex-student

extra very extra-bright, extra-strong
extra outside extra-curricular, extrasensory, extraordinary
fore before Forecast, forelimb,
hyper too much hyperactive, hypersensitive
il, im, in, ir not, opposite of illogical, impossible, indistinct, irrational

in(m) movement to, in input, inset, intake, implant, import

inter between, connected interrelated, interact

intra within intra-generational, intramuscular
kilo thousand kilogram, kilometer, kilowatt
macro large macroeconomics, macro-scale
mal bad, badly malfunction, malpractice
micro small micro-economics, micro-scale
mid middle midway, midsummer

mis wrongly, incorrect mistake, mistranslate, misunderstanding

mono one mono-centric, monoculture
multi many multicultural, multi-level
something old in new
neo form Neoclassical,
non not non-believer, non-competitive, nonsense
more, to a great
out extent outnumber, outlive, outburst, outrage

over over, above, too much overlook, overcook, overhead, overheat

post after post-examination, post-modern, post-independence
pre before pre-industrial, preview, pre-war, pre-independence
pro in favour of pro-feminist, pro-liberal, proactive
pseudo false, pseudo-intellectual, pseudo-science
quasi almost, not quite quasi-academic, quasi-legal
re again rediscover, redefine, rename, return, rejuvenate
retro backwards retrogressive, retrospective
semi partly, half semicircle, semi-organic, semi-precious, semifinals
part of something,
sub under, beneath, subway, submarine, subsection
super above or bigger superpower, supersonic, superstar
trans across transcontinental, transcribe, transport, transit
ultra extreme ultra-sensitive, ultrasound, ultramodern
unusual, uncertain, unusual, unscrew, unplug,
un not unfriendly
under, beneath,
under insufficient underpower, underemployed, undersea

well useful, successful well-designed, well-written. well-established

Check the links given below to know the difference between important but confusing words in English
language:
Similarly, Candidates can go through the 100 Difference Between Articles for Revision in the given link
that are based on different topics, subjects and concepts.

List of Suffix in English

Suffix Word Meaning Suffix Examples
-able, ible can be done doable, identifiable, predictable, possible
-al, ial has property of personal, partial, legal,
-ant having an effect disinfectant, coolant, accelerant
–based performing a major part of computer-based, oil-based, genetic-based
–cy state or quality accuracy, literacy, urgency,
-ed past tense of verb turned, ruined, cooked, cleaned
person affected by
–ee something employee, interviewee, trainee, addressee
-en made of, being made golden, broaden, lighten
-er comparative higher, lighter, sooner, later
one who perform or do
-er something doer, painter, singer, performer
-est superlative slightest, lightest, best, biggest
–free without hasslefree, carefree, debt-free, pain-free
–ful full of grateful, forgetful, fearful, careful, joyful
–hood condition, period, state childhood, brotherhood, adulthood, motherhood
linguistic, photographic, electric, democratic,
–ic having property of heroic
–ics study of genetics, electronics, aeronautics
giving quality to
–ify something defy, clarify, purify, solidify, classify
–ing present participle cooking, dancing, running
–ism behavior or belief liberalism, modernism, heroism
one who follows certain
-ist behaviors or belief Philanthropist, anarchist, optimist, activist
–(t)ion act or process reaction, action, projection
–(i)ty state of extremity, infinity, sanity
–(t)ive adjective active, motive, devotive
bring about a condition or
–ize, -ise state modernize/modernise, colonize/colonise
–less without fearless, careless, meaningless
–like resemble another alike, bird-like, child-like
–ly, -y having \quickly, quietly, wordy, handy
–ment action, process fulfilment, enjoyment, development
Happiness, newness, kindness, effectiveness,
–ness state of, quality openness
–ocracy type of ruling body democracy, autocracy, meritocracy, bureaucracy
–ocrat person ruling autocrat, technocrat, democrat
archaeology, geology, biology, physiological,
–ology, -ological study of biological,
–ous having callous, joyous, religious
–proof safe, protected against stain-proof, waterproof, dustproof, soundproof
state or experience of partnership, entrepreneurship, professorship,
–ship specific position leadership